The 401 is covered with snow and in the distance you see two dozers working in tandem, one is on the edge of the road and the other in the middle. The one in the middle isn’t moving the snow off the road, he’s just making sure that the one closest to the edge has little trouble moving all the snow off the road. That’s Rasho. He may not get the eventual credit but without him the job is impossible. He uses his wide body methodically, even stealthily, to clear medium to large big-men out of the lane so his mates get a crack at the rebound. He’s the guy who won’t get a face-up block on you but he’ll push you out of your comfort zone. He won’t dominate on offense but he’ll unclog the name by taking his man away from the paint using that 8-10 foot jumper. He’s 10 feet tall and weighs a f*****g ton, he’s Rasho and he’s coming. He’s coming.

As planned, the bi-annual exception was converted to a 1-year deal for Rasho Nesterovic. It’s not clear whether there were other NBA inquirers but it’s rumoured that there was some European interest. But why play in Europe when you can play in Toronto with Europeans? If being the Slovenian representative to the Raptors wasn’t incentive reason enough to take a paltry (I can’t believe I’m saying this) $1.9M, then surely reducing his commute definitely was - he still owns a home in Toronto, we haven’t yet figured out where it is but once we do we’ll forward you the address so the vigil can start in earnest. Seriously though, I’m sure he could’ve gotten a better deal money-wise but he’s made enough of it in his career to end his career in a place where he really wants to play.

The move’s hardly a surprise but I still felt relieved that there was zero chance of Patrick O’Bryant touching a basketball during non-garbage-time. I think every Raptors fan knows exactly what Rasho brings: good fundamental defense and expert knowledge of how to use his wide frame, and that’s all we’re asking. He’s going to be a huge part of our defensive rebounding even though his highest average as a Raptor was 4.8. In other words, he’ll prevent offensive rebounds and put the onus on others to clean the glass. Adding Rasho’s 7-foot frame doesn’t mean our rebounding problems are solved, it only means our guards and forwards will have a chance to collect the defensive rebounds that should belong to them. Instead of opposing centers wiping the offensive glass with Bargnani and Bosh, we’ll have Rasho in there to maintain spatial integrity in the paint.

That’s 14 players. You would think Delfino’s going to be #15 which leaves no room for Pops “I-try-to-tear-rim-down-but-get-stripped” Mensah-Bonsu. But wait! We can buyout St. Patrick and sign Pops to a $1M deal. The guy is literally sitting at home eating Cheetos and watching the Ashes while waiting for the England national team to start practice. He has zero NBA offers on the table and the only reason I think Colangelo hasn’t signed him yet is because he doesn’t know how much money he’ll have left to spend on Delfino. It would be a tragedy if we sign Pops to a deal and then find out that we’ll have to cross the tax level to sign Delfino. Colangelo’s smart, he’s waiting for the Delfino situation to get finalized so he’ll know exactly how much he can offer Pops.

According to earlier reports we had about $7.1M to spend before we reached the tax-level. We just used $1.9M on Rasho which leaves us with $5.2M. If O’Bryant agrees to a buyout of $200K which is 40% of his guaranteed contract we’ll be left with $5M (buyouts count against the cap). If Delfino agrees to a $4M deal for the first year we should be able to sign Pops to a $1M/1yr deal which also happens to be his qualifying offer. He’s got every reason to take it since he’s still an unproven commodity and will try his best in another contract year. Raise your hand if you’d rather have Pops than O’Bryant. Aaah, everybody’s with me…but wait…you there, you there in the back, why is your hand down? Oh, what’s that? You’re Patrick’s agent? Oooh, I’m sorry your vote doesn’t count and your client plays like a girl.

Rasho’s 33 years old and entering his 12 NBA campaign, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Pacers last season in 70 games. In his two previous years with the Raptors he averaged 6.2 points/4.5 rebounds in 20.9 minutes and 7.8 points/4.8 rebounds in 21 minutes. His career averages are 7.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 50.1% FG and 58.8% FT. He hasn’t shot less than 50% in his last four NBA season. He’s Rasho and he’s coming.

I’ve been browsing the internets and have come across some crazy ass banter, something about how signing Joey Graham is a good idea. I suggest those of you who share that thought sign up for my Joey Graham Withdrawal Class (MWF10-11 BA1024) where we go through all 12 steps:

1. Wow, what a great physique, he’s going to be a beast.
2. He’s still developing, a little raw, but what a physique?
3. He’s got to stop going one-on-one and throw up prayers but still, what a physique?
4. With a physique like that you’d think he wouldn’t settle for off-balance jumpers.
5. What’s Danny Granger upto? All-Star soon, eh? Bet he doesn’t have Joey’s physique, though.
6. Moon beat Joey to a starting job? Really? Even though Joey had the better physique?
7. Did you say Joey’s crazy baseline dunk on Pryzbilla? Man, so glad we got rid of that punk Moon.
8. Ever since Triano gave Joey time he’s been showing us something. Can we sign him to a 9M/3yr deal?
9. That something turned out to be nothing.
10. Has anyone seen Good Joey lately?
11. Four years later Joey still sucks.
12. I think Stephen Graham is better.

I'd rather have POB than Pops, especially if were talking about an end of the bench guy. And the idea of thinking we would have to be paying tax in order to pay Delfino is craziness. It would simply mean no Carlos if it meant crossing the threshold.

I'd rather have POB than Pops, especially if were talking about an end of the bench guy. And the idea of thinking we would have to be paying tax in order to pay Delfino is craziness. It would simply mean no Carlos if it meant crossing the threshold.

Really, you'd rather have POB over Pops?

POB has done shit all in reg season and summer league to show he deserves a spot on the raps roster. Id most definitely rather have a guy like Pops who is willing to sacrifice his body in the paint and hustle like a madman

joey was good this year we could just give him a 1 year contract to see if can be consistent
Moon was loved by the 2 coach we had this year(even if he suck)
Ukic is good player it is because that will solomon was also loved by the 2 coach of this year(this is the biggest mistake of triano,starting solomon instead of ukic,who has a lot of potential)
Pops was strugling a the end of the year missing wide open dunk a few time

When is Pops going to get the chance to sacrifice his body and hustle like a madman? We're talking the end of the bench. And O'Bryan started to click at the end of the season as a guy who can use his size. Maybe someday he actually goes beyond that. At least he will actually have an offensive game to speak of if he ever reaches that point.

When is Pops going to get the chance to sacrifice his body and hustle like a madman? We're talking the end of the bench. And O'Bryan started to click at the end of the season as a guy who can use his size. Maybe someday he actually goes beyond that. At least he will actually have an offensive game to speak of if he ever reaches that point.

Injuries do and will occur during the long regular season and it would be good to have a player like Pops who can fill in some minutes in case of injuries. Even in the unlikely event that bosh, evans, rasho or Bargs don't miss any significant time due to injuries I would still rather have Pops as the 11th/12th guy in the rotation as opposed to POB.

Well, considering he's not likely going to get bought out at 40 percent of his salary just weeks after having his salary guaranteed, I'd bet POB is the guy that sticks here, and mark me down as someone who thinks he's going to be a little bit of a pleasant surprise.

Our rotation at centre I am very comfortable with: Bargs-Rasho-POB. Our rotation at PF worries me a bit, as we have only Bosh and Evans there, really, and if/when Bosh gets one of those, unfortunately regular, little nagging injuries, who's going to back up Evans?! Yes, Bargs could, but that'd weaken the centres.

Just like it was important to get Jack as an insurance for Jose, it's equally important to get someone at least semi-serviceable who is capable of being a back-up at PF, preferrably with an ability to play some SF in a pinch. We'd need such a player much more than, say, Delfino, and that's whom I'd look to add to fill the last roster spot, if I am BC.

Last edited by MikeToronto; 07-26-2009 at 11:50 AM.
Reason: A typo pointed out by Acopur